Find Every Flavor of Music Festival in Austin This Month

Austin may be hailed as a live music paradise—and it very much is—but the central Texas city bursts with oh so much more. Just look at the variety: cool indie bookstores, vintage shops for days, produce-packed farmers markets, bar arcades and gaming hotspots, impressive restaurants, eclectic bars, stellar record stores (of course), coffee shops, elite barbecue, and the list goes on.

Austinites, lest you forget, love the great outdoors. Such nature-basking recreation come in the form of hiking, getting into spring pools or swimming holes, paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake, or—and, yes, this absolutely counts—chilling on a patio.

When romance is in the air, discover plenty of places for a great date (the dating scene itself, however, is another story entirely). There’s also Austin’s rich AAPI and Latinx cultures and a welcoming LGBTQIA+ community that make this Texas capitol feel like home to so many people.

With all this in mind, our monthly events guide will help keep your calendar full with a variety of fun things to do in April 2024. Stay tuned here to discover the best things to do in Austin, updated monthly.

April 7
Moody Center, $400
Nashville may be known as Music City, but, for one night in April, Austin becomes the center of all things country. For the second time in the award show’s history, the biggest stars of the genre will strut their cowboy boots on the Moody Center’s stage for the CMT Music Awards. This year, the whole shebang will be emceed by Kelsea Ballerini, with other big-names, like Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, and Sam Hunt, scheduled to perform. Should the ticket price raise your eyebrows all the way to the rim of your Stetson, fear not — you can join the fun at free concerts, which will be announced closer to the date of the show.

April 19, 6:45 pm
Mueller Lake Park Amphitheater, Free
Nothing says spring in Austin like a free, outdoor concert. And, this month, you can live the cliche to the full extent at Rock the Park. This event is hosted by KUTX, the Austin radio station which is, unarguably, one of the cornerstones that makes the city continue to be worthy of the title of the Live Music Capital of the World. And, considering the tremendous taste of their DJs, you know that the lineup of Geto Gala and Lucas Miller is guaranteed to bring the vibes. As if that wasn’t enough, you can enjoy eats from food trucks, and the beautiful greenery of Mueller Lake Park Amphitheater, between the sets.

April 19–21
Auditorium Shores, $26
While the knowledge that many of us have of reggae is limited to a handful of Bob Marley tunes, there is more to discover about this powerful and genre-fusing style of music beyond “Three Little Birds.” You can dive into the rhythms this weekend at Austin’s annual Reggae Festival, a showcase of some of the best Reggae performers around rocking it out in the beautiful setting of Auditorium Shores. In other words, pack up that lawn chair and get ready to enjoy sets by The Legendary Wailers, Stonebwoy, and many others. And, in line with the true activist spirit of the genre, the event benefits the Central Texas Food Bank, which works to provide hunger relief for thousands in our local community.

April 20 & 21
San Gabriel Park, $349
Saddle up for a 30-minute drive to nearby Georgetown, and get ready to go buck-wild at the boot scootin’ music festival, Two Step Inn. With headliners Cody Johnson and Turnpike Troubadours, as well as new favorites, like Charley Crockett, the line-up for the two-day shindig does skew country. However, there is more than just twangy tracks to be found — you can “get back,” and get down to, the sounds of the early aughts at a set from Ludacris. Rounding out the whole experience are plentiful food options, a marketplace full of vendors, and a plethora of DJs bringing the groove to the honky-tonk.

April 26–28,
The Far Out Lounge & Stage
A showcase of all of the sounds that fit under the headline of psychedelic music, you’ll trip out to the tunes at Austin Psych Fest. Taking place at South Austin haunt, The Far Out, the only thing as mind-blowing as the festival’s kaleidoscope of background visuals during each performance is the performers themselves. Headlining the three-night jamboree of jams are an assortment of indie darlings, such as Courtney Barnett, Alvvays, and Kurt Vile & The Violators. And you won’t want to miss Saturday’s set by Austin natives and Psych Fest founders,The Black Angels.

April 27 & 28
Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, $80
Put together by iconic Austin venue, Antone’s, the beloved Austin Blues Festival returns to deliver some musical balm for the soul. Despite what the event’s name, and its corresponding musical genre, implies, this year’s line-up leaves nothing to be sad about. You can catch literal guitar-wailing legends, such as Buddy Guy and Jimmie Vaughan, flexing their finesse on the frets. The stage will also host a variety of more modern performers, including Brittany Howard and Big Freedia, who are sure to bring their own unique twist to the blues tradition.

Every Tuesday in April, 5–8 pm
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, $15
Although the bluebonnets may have started sprouting in late February, any field in Texas will show you that April is peak wildflower season. The ideal way to bask amongst the buttercups has to be attending one of the Tuesday Twilight events at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Pack a picnic, or grab some grub from one of the featured food trucks, and tune out the workday with live music and the beauty of nature. Fido can even frolic in the foxgloves alongside you on April 9th for their special dog-friendly night.

April 8
Various locations, Prices vary
Have a stellar start to the month by witnessing the otherworldly phenomenon of a total solar eclipse on the afternoon of April 8th. And, for this eclipse in particular, there’s no better place to view it in totality than right here in Central Texas. You can be in awe along fellow Austinites at the Long Center’s Total Eclipse Viewing Party, which will feature live music and storytelling from prestigious artists, as well as solar themed sips from local breweries. Or, you can make out the moon with music by celebrating at Eclipse UTOPIA, the Texas Eclipse Festival, or a performance by Vampire Weekend. Finally, down some sour beer in the blocked sunshine at the party hosted by Hill Country brewery, Jester King. Their Path of Totality - Solar Eclipse Party will have performances by psych rock musicians, vendors from the Austin Witches Markets, and, of course, specialty cocktails and brews.

April 14
Zilker Park, Free
Does anything sound more wholesome than spending a day in the park watching kites? Celebrate the great weather, and the return of spring, at the annual ABC Kite Fest, which takes place at the green grass and blue skies paradise that is Zilker Park. An Austin tradition since 1929, you expect not just a plethora of colorful, stringed shapes gliding through the skies, but a variety of other activities as well, including live music, and a pet zone where you can let your fur baby run off-leash through a course of ring jumps and tunnels.

April 20
Various locations, Free
You may have heard “Keep Austin Weird” about a million times (and seen it on a million souvenir coffee-mugs). But, equally, if not more, important is the organization Keep Austin Beautiful. And they indeed focus their efforts on exactly what their name suggests: beautifying green spaces, cleaning waterways, and reducing waste in the greater Austin area. In honor of Earth Day (April 22nd), stop by their annual eco-palooza, Keep Austin Beautiful Day, for a day full of cleaning-up the litter and invasive plants that plague the city’s much-loved natural spots. Sign up through their website, and join the hundreds of volunteers committed to restoring the numerous sites, including Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park and Twin Falls, that make Bat City so wonderful.

April 27
Pease District Park, Free 
What is a weekend if not a celebration? Whether it be a jubilee in honor of leaving your work-from-home office for the first time in five days, finally booking that much longed-for tropical vacation, or, simply, staying within the financial boundaries of your pre-set take-out budget. And, for those looking to get festive, there’s no better party going down this weekend than the classic Austin event that is Eeyore’s Birthday. Bring a picnic blanket, sunscreen, snacks, and good vibes to take in the scenery of hula-hoopers, balloon blowers, face painters, and a variety of precious-looking pups. If you’re looking for an authentic Austin experience, this is it.

All Month Long
Holey Moley, Prices vary
Newly opened East Austin mini golf spot, Holey Moley, is here to put a new spin on putt-putt. You and your crew will have a ball playing through their three different nine-hole courses, which feature homages to Jaws, Bill Murray, and other pop-culture greats. While the green itself has lots of great shots for the ‘gram, Holey Moley’s creative cocktails, served in cups shaped like bathtubs and unicorns, are equally worthy of space on your grid. Fuel up after your tiny tournament with their bar-food bites, and use that newfound energy to belt out “Sweet Caroline” in one of the spot’s private karaoke rooms.

April 12–24
Circuit of the Americas, $39 and up
There’s no doubt that Texas is famous for its rodeos. However, the one happening this month is not fueled by hay. We’re talking about the MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, aka “The Horsepower Rodeo:” three days of some of the best to ride the electric saddle hitting the turns at break-neck speed for your enjoyment. For those who like to get in on a bit of the action on their own, there is even free motorcycle parking at the venue all weekend. Just be sure to not go past the boundaries of Lot H and, you know, into the track itself.

April 10–21
Locations and prices vary
Knock, knock, who’s there? Only every comedian you can conceivably think of. Over the next two weeks, they are all descending on the city for the Moontower Just for Laughs Austin comedy festival. To say this line-up is stacked feels like an understatement. Every laugh legend spanning the gamut will be there — including SNL favorites, Sarah Sherman and Chloe Fineman, podcast royalty, Marc Maron, and household names, Margaret Cho and Kathy Griffin. Just two of the must-see sets going down this two-weekend long haha-poolza include Mr. “just here for the zip line,” Tim Robinson, and a special screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off hosted by Alan Ruck (aka Cameron from the film).

Want more Thrillist? Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.